Research project IM/RT/24/DTO-TRACK (Research action IM)
Context
DTOTrack is a newly funded Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership project that aims to create a digital twin of the North Sea using animal tracking data. Marine science has the tools and capacity to support effective management and catalyze a transition towards a sustainable blue economy. However, adequate management, protection, and conservation of ocean life require an understanding of animal needs in terms of habitat and movement routes. The movement of aquatic animals provides numerous services to the ocean, but observing these movements is challenging due to the limitations of geolocation tools underwater. GPS technology, which is highly effective on land, is nearly useless underwater, making it difficult to track marine life accurately.
Digital Twins (DTs) are becoming a popular tool to nearly real-time monitor complex processes and test different ‘what-if’ scenarios. Digital twins are especially promising in aiding marine animal tracking research given the technical difficulties of studying animal movement. However, the construction of such a Digital Twin has not been realized yet. DTO-Track addresses this gap through developing a digital twin test case encompassing the North Sea. The developed DT test case will include multiple types of animal movement data and solve the challenge of integrating these various data types into one data ecosystem.
General Objectives and Underlying Research Questions:
DTOTrack aims to map the movements and distributions of marine life in the North Sea to create a digital twin of the area. Key research questions include:
What are the drivers of inter-basin movements for highly migratory species in the North Sea?
How do human activities and infrastructures, such as oil rigs and offshore windfarms, impact these movements?
How can animal movement data be operationalized in a digital twin for better management and conservation?
Methodology:
The project will coordinate tracking efforts for migratory species using acoustic telemetry infrastructure, map species movements and ocean developments, and develop tools and methods to integrate animal movement data into a digital twin test case in the North Sea. Collaboration with projects like STRAITS (Strategic Infrastructure for Improved Animal Tracking in European Seas,EU Horizon Europe, Grant No. 101094649, https://europeantrackingnetwork.org/en/straits) and DTO-Bioflow (Integration of biodiversity monitoring data into the Digital Twin Ocean, Horizon Europe, Grant No. 101112823, https://dto-bioflow.eu) will enhance data collection and analysis. By leveraging acoustic telemetry data, DTOTrack will detect acoustically tagged animals across the North Sea, providing valuable data on their movements and interactions with their environment.
Potential Impact:
The research will have significant implications for science, economy, society, culture, environment, and public policy. By providing real-time and continuous monitoring tools, the project can aid in evidence-based decision-making, improve conservation efforts, and enhance the management of marine resources. Examples include the setup of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), the timing of human activities such as pile driving or sand extraction to minimize interaction with migratory species, and the implementation of seasonally varying fishing efforts. The digital twin will also serve as a valuable resource for policy initiatives and environmental management strategies. It will enable scientists and policymakers to assess the state of marine ecosystems with little lag, detect trends, and determine the effectiveness of intervention efforts.
Expected Final Research Results:
DTO-Track expects to produce advanced analysis tools, detailed studies, policy recommendations, and various scientific manuscripts. In the short and medium term, the digital twin and associated tools will be operationalized for practical use in marine management and conservation. For this, data flow pipelines will be developed to ensure smooth and real-time integration of animal tracking and monitoring data into the digital twin. Through the digital twin test case, DTO-Track will provide unprecedented tools for addressing 'what if' scenarios in the North Sea, contributing to conservation and policy initiatives.
